Best advice anyone ever gave you: The best advice came from my parents who told me to respect everyone and to treat everyone equally. They also told me to never forget where I was from.

Best advice you could give someone thinking of a teaching career: I feel that it is the best vocation in the world and very rewarding. To teach is to touch a life forever.

Deborah was born in Ballymurphy 41 years ago during the worst of the ‘Troubles’. She went to St Bernadette’s Primary School until the age of eight and after moving house went to St Oliver Plunkett Primary School. She then progressed to St Louise’s. After gaining her A Levels, she attended the University Of Ulster at Coleraine. She then completed her teaching qualification in England.

She has been employed in Corpus Christi College for 16 years and says she is “very proud and privileged” to work with the pupils of the Falls Road and beyond. “I have continued my professional development doing Emergent Leadership courses and hope to complete the Professional Qualification for Headship in the immediate future,” says Deborah. “I am very grateful for all the people who have touched my life especially the pupils of Corpus Christi College.”

To relax Deborah enjoys reading, particularly murder mysteries and she tries to keep fit by attending spin classes and going for long treks around Lough Neagh. She has been married for twenty years to Dan and they have three daughters.